CSE30310 Design of Concrete Structures

Lecture 11 – Prestressed Concrete (I)

Outline of the lecture

• Principles of prestressing
• Methods of prestressing
• Analysis of concrete section under working loads
• Determination of minimum section properties
• Design of prestress force
• Magnel diagram
• Design of tendon profiles

2
What is Pre-stressed Concrete?

• Concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension

• In prestressed concrete, tendons are used to apply prestress compression

to the member

• The axial compression counteracts the tensile stresses induced by the

applied loadings
Characteristic of RC beams

4
Characteristic of Prestressed beams

5
Classification of Pre-Stressing System

Pre-stressing

Pre-tensioning Post-tensioning

Internal External
Pre-tensioning Method

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4

Tendons and Tendons are stressed Concrete is cast into When the concrete
reinforcement are to about 70% of their the beam mould and has cured the
positioned in the ultimate strength. allowed to cure to stressing force is
beam mould. the required initial released and the
strength. tendons anchor
themselves in the
concrete.
Source: Prof. Dr. Azlan Abdul Rahman, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia © UTM 2006
Methods of prestressing
Pretensioning

In this method the steel wires or strands are stretched

to the required tension and anchored to the ends of
the mould. The concrete is then cast around the
tensioned steel, and when it has reached sufficient
strength, the anchors are released and the force in the
steel is transferred to the concrete by bond.

This method is suitable for mass production in factory.

There is an immediate drop in prestress force due to elastic shortening of
the member after releasing of anchors, in addition to long term losses due
to creep, shrinkage and relaxation.
8
Methods of prestressing

Pre-tension system 9
Pretensioning System

• Strands are pretensioned between end anchorages

and the concrete members cast around strands.

Pretensioning of strands

Casting of concrete

Anchorages release and

strands cutting PT beam with strand position shown
Pretensioning System
Post-tensioning Method

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4

Cable ducts and Concrete is cast Tendons are Wedges are inserted
reinforcement are into the beam threaded through the into the end
positioned in the beam mould and allowed cable ducts and anchorages and the
mould. The ducts are to cure to the tensioned to about tensioning force on
usually raised towards required initial 70% of their the tendons is
the neutral axis at the strength. ultimate strength. released. Grout is
ends to reduce the then pumped into
eccentricity of the the ducts to protect
stressing force. the tendons.

Source: Prof. Dr. Azlan Abdul Rahman, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia © UTM 2006
Methods of prestressing
Post-tensioning

This method involves the stressing of un-bonded tendon or steel bars against the
hardened concrete. Therefore it is most suitable for in situ construction.
The tendons are passed through a flexible sheathing that is cast into the concrete in the
designed position. They are tensioned by jacking against the concrete, and anchored
mechanically to the end of the member.
After stressing, the space in the ducts may be left empty (un-bonded construction). The
demolition of un-bonded post-tensioned member is dangerous as the energy stored in the
tendon may be released.
More often the tendons are filled with pressure grouting of concrete (bonded
construction). The grouting improves bonding, and also protect tendons from corrosion.

13
Methods of prestressing

Post-tension system
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Bonded Post-tensioned Concrete

• Process
– Concrete is casted around a curved duct (usually corrugated), to allow room for the tendon to be
inserted.
– After the concrete has hardened the tendons are pulled in tension and then wedged.
– The duct is then injected with grout

Source: Danny Efland, Maria Cuellar and Joel Irvine

Bonded Post-tensioned Concrete

• Advantages
– Tendons are less likely to de-stress in accidents
– Tendons can be easily 'weaved' allowing more efficient designs
– Higher ultimate strength due to bond generated between the
strand and concrete
– No issues with maintaining the anchor

Source: Danny Efland, Maria Cuellar and Joel Irvine

Un-bonded Post-Tension
• In post-tensioning, the steel in the concrete is stretched after the curing process.
• Unlike bonded, un-bonded provides tendons freedom of movement by coating each tendon with grease
and covering it with a plastic sheathing
• Tension on the concrete is achieved by the cables acting against the steel anchors that are buried in the
perimeters of the concrete

• Advantages
– Post-stress grouting is eliminated
– Ability to de-stress the tendons
– Economical
– Replaceable
– Simple stressing equipment
 Un-bonded Post-Tension

Source: Danny Efland, Maria Cuellar and Joel Irvine

Prestress force is applied by jacking tendons against an already-
cast concrete member

Live / Dead Anchor Coupler Dead Anchor

 Post-tensioning System

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Post-tensioning - Internal Prestress

• Tendons are embedded in the concrete section

• The flexible duct is curved gradually to achieve the desired profile

Tendons
Cross Section

Tendon Profile - Elevation

Tendon Profile - Plan

Post-tensioning - External Prestress

• Tendons are located inside the voids

of box girder
• Deviator is used to hold the cables Tendons
into the desired profile Cross Section at Deviator

Tendon Profile - Elevation

 Deck with Combined Internal and External PT

© Arup
23
 Deck with Combined Internal and External PT

© Arup
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Advantages of prestressing
Reinforced concrete has the following deficiencies:
• It cracks due to poor tensile resistance of concrete
• The compressive strength of concrete is not fully utilized in the full
cross-section. The concrete in the cracked zone is ‘useless’ and only adds
to dead weight.
• Because of crack width limit and hence strain limit in the tensile steel,
the economic use of higher strength steel is not possible.
• Span length of RC beams are limited due to the deficiencies.
• These deficiencies can be overcome by the application of an axial force
to the beam

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Advantages of prestressing

Therefore, the advantage of prestressed concrete is that a lighter section can

be used as compared to RC section under the same load. This yields more
clearance or enables longer spans to be used. The absence or nearly absence
of crack is another advantage.

The analysis and design of prestressed concrete is a specialized field which

cannot possibly be covered in one chapter.

This chapter concentrates on the basic principles of prestressing, and

analysis and design of statically determined members in bending.

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Principles of prestressing

Axial force reduces tensile stress and Eccentric axial force further reduces the
make use of compressive strength in the flexural bending caused by load
full cross-section that also increases the
flexural stiffness EI.

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Methods of prestressing

A post-tensioned structure may be constructed from an assembly of separate

pre-cast units which are constrained to act together by means of tensioned
cables.
It can also be cast in one unit in normal way.

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Precast Segmental, Span by Span Construction

• Internal or external post-tensioning, or mix

• Segments are supported by gantry at temporary stage
 of Shear Key
Typical Section
Precast Segmental Deck

https://roselliott.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/dsc00769.jpg
Analysis of concrete section under working loads
The objective of pre-stressing is to maintain favorable stress conditions in a member.
Therefore, design codes limit the working stresses that vary for different class of
members.
As a result, the primary design analysis of prestressed concrete is stress check at service
conditions.
The following assumptions are made to the analysis:
1. Plane sections remain plane.
2. Stress-strain relationships are linear.
3. Bending occurs about a principal axis.
4. The prestressing force is the value after all losses have occurred.
5. Changes in tendon stress due to applied loads on the member have negligible effect.
6. Section properties are generally based on the gross concrete cross-section.

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Analysis of concrete section under working loads

Sign Convention and notation

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Analysis of concrete section under working loads

Members subjected to axial prestress force (Elastic analysis)

Under a moment M, the concrete stresses at top fibre, ft, and at bottom, fb,
are given by P M
ft = +
A zt
P M
fb = −
A zb
where zb and zt are the elastic section
modulus and P is the prestress force.

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Analysis of concrete section under working loads
The minimum and maximum stresses of concrete at the section are caused by a
maximum moment:
𝑃 𝑀max 𝑃 𝑀max
Min. 𝑓𝑏 = − Max. 𝑓𝑡 = +
𝐴 𝑧𝑏 𝐴 𝑧𝑡

𝑃 𝑀max
If no tensile stress is allowed, 𝑓𝑡 = 0 = −
𝐴 𝑧𝑏

𝑀max
The prestress force P required to resist a maximum moment, 𝑃 =
𝑧𝑏

𝑃⋅𝑧𝑏
Or the maximum moment allowed at a certain prestress P is 𝑀max =
𝐴

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Analysis of concrete section under working loads
Members subjected to eccentric prestress

The concrete stresses are given by

𝑃 𝑀 𝑃⋅𝑒
𝑓𝑡 = + −
𝐴 𝑧𝑡 𝑧𝑡
𝑃 𝑀 𝑃⋅𝑒
𝑓𝑏 = − +
𝐴 𝑧𝑏 𝑧𝑏

The eccentricity of prestress produces an

hogging moment that reduces the sagging
effect due to loading.

The stress distribution is more even across the

section.

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Analysis of concrete section under working loads
If no tensile stress is allowed
P M max P  e
0= − +
A zb zb
from which we get the maximum moment allowed at a certain prestress force P
zb
M max = P( + e)
A
From the above equation, it can be seen that the eccentricity increase the moment
capacity by P*e. This is the reason that eccentricity is beneficial to bending of beams.

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Analysis of concrete section under working loads
Substitute Mmax into ft, we get the maximum stress at the top fibre:

𝑃 𝑀max
𝑓𝑡 = +
𝐴 𝑧 𝑃 ⋅ 𝑒 𝑃 𝑧𝑏 + 𝑧𝑡
𝑡 𝑧 𝐴 𝑧𝑡
𝑡

The term e does not occur in the above equation. That means the eccentricity does not increase the
maximum stress of concrete.

The above example illustrated that the eccentricity of prestress increases the moment capacity of a beam
without increase the maximum compressive stress in the concrete. Therefore, the advantage of the
eccentricity is apparent.
It must be noted that the top fibre may be under tension under minimum moment. Therefore, the top stress
must also be checked under minimum bending moment.

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Example

A rectangular beam 300x150 mm is simply supported over a 4m span, and

supports a live load of 10 kN/m. If a straight tendon is provided at an
eccentricity of 65mm below the centroid of the section, find the minimum
prestress force necessary for no tension under live load at mid-span.
Calculate the corresponding stresses under self-weight only at mid-span and
at the ends of the member.
Beam properties
Self-weight = 0.15x03x24=1.08kN/m
Cross-sectional area = 45x103 mm2
𝑏ℎ2
Section moduli, 𝑧𝑡 = 𝑧𝑏 = = 2.25 × 106 𝑚𝑚3
6
38
Example
b. Mid-span moment
(10 + 1.08) × 42
𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
8
1.08 × 42
𝑀𝑚𝑖𝑛 = = 2.24𝑘𝑁𝑚
8

c. Calculate minimum prestress force

For no tension at the bottom under Mmax
𝑃 𝑀 𝑃⋅𝑒
0 = − max + or
𝐴 𝑧𝑏 𝑧𝑏
𝑀max 22.2×106
𝑃= 𝑧𝑏 = 2.25×106
𝑥 103 = 193𝑘𝑁
+𝑒 +65
𝐴 45×103

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Example
(d) Calculate stresses at mid-span under Mmin
Stress at top
P M min P  e
ft = + − = 4.3 + 1.0 − 5.6 = −0.3N / mm 2 (tension)
A zt zt
Stress at bottom
P M Pe
f b = − min + = 4.3 − 1.0 + 5.6 = 8.9 N / mm 2
A zb zb
The calculation shows that with minimum load it is possible for the beam to hog with
tensile stresses in the top fibers. This is particularly so at the initial transfer of the
prestress force to the unloaded beam.

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Example
(d)Calculate stresses at ends
M=0 in the end of the beam
P Pe
ft = − = 4.3 − 5.6 = −1.3N / mm 2 (tension)
A zt

Stress at bottom
P Pe
fb = + = 4.3 + 5.6 = 9.9 N / mm 2
A zb
The tensile stress is greater than that in the mid-span.

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Design for serviceability limit state (SLS)
Hk CoP Chapter 12 & 12.1.3

HK2013 categorize the prestressed members into three basic groups:

1. Class 1 – no tensile stress permitted under working conditions
Class 1
2. Class 2 – tensile stresses are permitted, but these are limited to avoid
flexural cracking.
3. Class 3 – cracking permitted, but tensile stresses limited on the basis of
maximum permissible flexural crack widths. This class is also called
Class 2
partial prestressed and design is governed by the ultimate limit state.
• The maximum allowable concrete compressive stress in bending is
generally the same for all the three classes, at one-third of fcu, to avoid
spalling of concrete and prevention of excessive loss of prestress due
to creep. Class 3
• The allowed stresses at transfer, where loading is minimum, are
generally greater.

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Design for SLS

The critical design conditions are shown in the figure

where f’max and f’min are the permissible stresses at transfer;

fmax and fmin are the permissible stresses at service;
P0 is the prestressing force at transfer; and KP0 is the prestressing force at
service with a loss factor K.
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Basic Theory

Stress by prestressing Stress by external load Resultant stress

Source: Prof. Dr. Azlan Abdul Rahman, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia © UTM 2006

44
Basic Inequalities
Stresses at transfer condition (before external load apply)

𝑃𝑖 𝑃𝑖 𝑒 𝑀𝑡 ′
Top fibre − + ≥ 𝑓𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝐴𝑐 𝑍𝑡 𝑍𝑡

𝑃𝑖 𝑃𝑖 𝑒 𝑀𝑖
−
𝐴𝑐 𝑍𝑡 𝑍𝑡

𝑃𝑖 𝑒 𝑀𝑖
−
𝑍𝑏 𝑍𝑏
𝑃𝑖 𝑃𝑖 𝑒 𝑀𝑠 ′
Bottom fibre + − ≥ 𝑓𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝐴𝑐 𝑍𝑏 𝑍𝑏

45
Basic Inequalities
Stresses at service condition (with external load)

𝐾𝑃𝑖 𝐾𝑃𝑖 𝑒 𝑀𝑠
Top fibre − + ≤ 𝑓𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝐴𝑐 𝑍𝑡 𝑍𝑡

𝐾𝑃𝑖 𝐾𝑃𝑖 𝑒 𝑀𝑠
−
𝐴𝑐 𝑍𝑡 𝑍𝑡

𝐾𝑃𝑖 𝑒 𝑀𝑠
−
𝑍𝑏 𝑍𝑏
𝐾𝑃𝑖 𝐾𝑃𝑖 𝑒 𝑀𝑠
Bottom fibre + − ≥ 𝑓𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝐴𝑐 𝑍𝑏 𝑍𝑏
46
Design for SLS

The critical design conditions can be expressed by the following equations:

P0 P0  e M min
− + = f 't  f 'min
At transfer A zt zt
P0 P0  e M min
+ − = f 'b  f 'max
A zb zb

K  P0 K  P0  e M max
− + = f t  f max
At service A zt zt
K  P0 K  P0  e M max
+ − = f b  f min
A zb zb
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Minimum sectional properties
P0 P0  e M min
− + = f 't  f 'min
A zt zt M max − kM min  ( f max − kf 'min ) zt
K  P0 K  P0  e M max
− + = f t  f max
A zt zt

P0 P0  e M min
+ − = f 'b  f 'max
A zb zb
M max − kM min  (kf max − f min ) zb
'

K  P0 K  P0  e M max
+ − = f b  f min
A zb zb
Mv Mv
M max − kM min = M v zt  zb 
( f max − kf min (kf max − f min )
' '
)

48
Allowable compressive stresses, fmax at SLS
HK CoP 12.3.4.2

Nature of Loading Allowable Compressive Stress Remarks

Design load in bending 0.33 fcu
in continuous beams and other
0.40 fcu statically indeterminate structures,
within the range of support moments.
Design load in direct compression 0.25 fcu

49
Allowable tensile stresses, - fmin ,at SLS
HKCoP 12.3.4.3

Member Class Allowable Tensile Stress

Concrete Grade C30 C40 C50 C60
Class 1 No Tensile Stress
Class 2
Pre-tensioned members, (0.45 𝑓𝑐𝑢 ) - 2.9 3.2 3.5

Post-tensioned members, (0.36 𝑓𝑐𝑢 ) 2.1 2.3 2.6 2.7

Class 3 Following the above table by adding modification factors in table 12.3 in
CoP

50
Allowable compressive stresses, f  max ,at transfer state

Nature of stress distrubtion Allowable compressive stresses

Extreme fibre 0.5fci
Uniform or near uniform 0.4fci
fci = cube strength at transfer

51
Allowable tensile stress, -f  min , at transfer state

Member Class Allowable tensile stress at transfer

Class 1 1.0 N/mm2
0.45fci for pre-tensioned members
Class 2
0.36fci for post-tensioned members
In general should not exceed appropriate value for a class 2 member.
Class 3
Otherwise, the section be considered as cracked.

52
Design of prestress force

Basic criteria
( zt f max − M max ) ( zt f 'min − M min )
P0  P0 
K ( zt / A − e) ( zt / A − e)

( zb f min + M max ) ( zb f 'max + M min )

P0  P0 
K ( zb / A + e) ( zb / A + e)

These equations are used to determine the range of the prestress force, and a
minimum value in the range is usually chosen for a simply supported beam.
Note: The sense of the inequality must change if the denominator term (zt/A-e) is negative

53
Maximum moment-prestress force relationship

If the minimum value for maximum eccentricity emax, depends on cover

requirement,
K  P0 K  P0  e M max zt
− + = f t  f max M max  f max zt − KP0 ( − emax )
A zt zt A

K  P0 K  P0  e M max M max  KP0 (

zb
+ emax ) − f min Z b
+ − = f b  f min
A zb zb A

Linear relationship between Mmax and P0

Note: The sense of the inequality must change if the denominator term (zt/A-e) is negative

54
Maximum moment-prestress force relationship

f max zt + f min zb
P0 =
zb + zt
K( )
A

maximum economical prestress

zb zt
KP0 ( + emax ) − f min Z b = f max zt − KP0 ( − emax )
A A
55
Magnel Diagrams

• Magnel diagrams were introduced by a Belgian engineer, Magnel.

• It is a graphical tool used to determine the requirements for the initial
prestressing forces and eccentricity of tendons.
• They are used to determine the serviceability bending moments at points
in the span of horizontal elements such as beams and slabs.
• Magnel diagrams provide a two-dimensional ‘permissible region’ of
prestressing force and thrust eccentricity in the form of a quadrilateral.
• They are used in the design of prestressed concrete beams.
Magnel Diagrams
Recall the equation 1 for transfer in slide 44
𝑃0 𝑃0 ⋅ 𝑒 𝑀min ′
− + = 𝑓𝑡′ ≥ 𝑓𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝐴 𝑍𝑡 𝑍𝑡
Rearrange the above equ. to give below
′ 𝑀
𝑓𝑚𝑖𝑛 − 𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑍𝑡
𝑃0 ≥
1 𝑒
− 1  (Z t Ac − e )

Pi (Z t f min − Mi )
𝐴 𝑍𝑡
′ '
𝑍𝑡 ∙ 𝑓𝑚𝑖𝑛 − 𝑀𝑚𝑖𝑛
≥
𝑍𝑡
−𝑒
𝐴 𝑍𝑡 𝑍𝑡
′
𝑍𝑡 ∙ 𝑓𝑚𝑖𝑛 − 𝑀𝑚𝑖𝑛 1 1 −𝑒 1 𝛼 −𝑒
𝐴 ≤ 𝐴
≤ ≤ ′ ′
𝑍𝑡 𝑃0 𝑃0 𝑍𝑡 ∙ 𝑓𝑚𝑖𝑛 − 𝑀𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑃𝑖 𝑍𝑡 ∙ 𝑓𝑚𝑖𝑛 − 𝑀𝑚𝑖𝑛
−𝑒
𝐴
Magnel diagram construction
𝑍𝑡
1 𝛼( − 𝑒)
The relationship between 1/Pi and e are ≤ 𝐴
′
linear and if plotted graphically, they 1 𝑃𝑖 𝑍𝑡 𝑓𝑚𝑖𝑛 − 𝑀𝑚𝑖𝑛
provide a useful means of determining
appropriate values of Pi and e. 𝑍𝑏
1 𝛼( + 𝑒)
2 ≥ 𝐴
′
𝑃𝑖 𝑍𝑏 𝑓𝑚𝑎𝑥 + 𝑀𝑚𝑖𝑛

𝑍𝑡
1 𝐾( − 𝑒)
≥ 𝐴
3
𝑃𝑖 𝑍𝑡 𝑓𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥

𝑍𝑏
1 𝐾( + 𝑒)
4 ≤ 𝐴
𝑃𝑖 𝑍𝑏 𝑓𝑚𝑖𝑛 + 𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥

58
Magnel diagram construction
These relationships can be plotted as shown below. The area of graph as highlighted satisfy all the
four inequalities and hence provide a satisfactory design.

Case a or b depends on the sign of the denominator

Line 5 is to limit the maximum allowable eccentricity as limited by the cross-sectional height.

59
Cable Zone and Cable Profile
• Once the prestress force has been chosen based on the most critical
section, it is possible to find the limits of the eccentricity e at sections
elsewhere along the member.
• An allowable cable zone is produced within which the profile may take
any shape.
• The term ‘cable’ is used to denote the resultant of all the individual
tendons.
• As long as the ‘cable’ lies within the zone, the stresses at the different
loading stages will not exceed the allowable values, even though some of
the tendons might physically lie outside the cable zone.

60
Design of tendon profiles
The four design expressions can be re-written as:
At transfer At service
 zt f 'min zt  M min z f z  M
e − + a e   t − max t  + max c
A P0  P0 A KP0  KP0
 zb f 'max zb  M min
e  − + + b  z f z  M d
e  − b + min b  + max
 A P0  P0
 A KP0  KP0
The above four equations can be evaluated at any section to determine the range of eccentricity within
which the prestress for P0 must lie.
Mmax and Mmin are moments relating to the section being considered.
For the case of P0 being constant along the member, the value in the bracket is constant. The shape of
eccentricity profile will be the same as the moment envelope that is parabolic under uniformly distributed
loading.

61
Design of tendon profiles
Possible range of eccentricity under
certain P0 d

The above figure shows the e profile under uniform load in which Eqs. a and d are more critical.
At the critical section, the zone is generally narrower and reduces to zero if the value of the prestress force
is taken as the minimum or maximum values from the Magnel diagram. At sections away from the critical
section, the zone becomes increasingly greater.

62
Any Questions?

63